Re: Tractor Test And Licences

as good s it sounds you will be restricted to what you can drive and do. you cant drive in restricted areas such as 30 and 40 mph zones. you have to keep L plates up like on a scooter. Don't quote me but i'm nearly sure your total gross weight will be around 6.5 - 7 ton. even when you pass the car test you are still limited to a trailer weight of 750 kg. In order to drive a tractor and trailer with gross weight 25 ton (eg TM140 with 14 ton sialge trailer full) you have to do you car test then the car trailer test.

crap as it sounds thats the law. trust me I had the points on my liscence from when i was younger to prove it.

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

Im 16 early next year and hoping to do my cat F test to enable me to drive tractors legally on the road - All being well. I have read the comments accosiated with this post thing and was wondering is it really true that the max gross weight has to be less than 7 tonnes and various other tests are needed to drive a tractor and trailer combination?

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

I am sorry to stick my oar in but 4 years ago when I took my tractor test (God that makes me feel old) me and my then employer rang his insurance company the DVLA and the traffic division of the county police and asked what the restriction’s where and all 3 gave near enough the same response that I couldn’t drive anything, tow or carry anything wider than 2.45 meters that I could only tow single or twin axle close coupled trailers not 5 wheel trailers and I cold not drive any self propelled machines on public highwayse.g. combine sprayer but I could drive a loadallproviding a had a valid certificate you can drive any agricultural vehicle with the limits of 2.45 meter’s and you only have to display L plates on the way to test and if you fail someone else needs to drive the tractor home for you. I can’t guarantee any of this is gospel but that’s what we were told 4 years ago if you have any more question e-mail me on gareth@bell836.fsnet.co.uk

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

your only allowed to drive in a restricted zone on the way to or from the test. This is the car test. People get this confused with the tractor test. You cannot drive a tractor in a resricted zone unless you have passed the car test. In order to pull a tractor and trailer up to 24 ton gross weight you must have the B+E on your liscence. this is the car and trailer test. without this all you are allowed is a trailer with a total weight of 750kg.

this is fact. we get away with it as there a re that many loopholes and grey areas and the police aren't really sure what there on about

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

thanks for all ur help im now 16 have been putting in hours in the tractor im starting tonight to apply for my provisonal and ive asked the farm owner if i can use the tractor he says no probs got a form from the dsa ive just got to book the test the tractor im starting with is big but is just under the width limit of 2.45 its a massey ferguson 8110 and also can i got out on the road with l plates on with a mate of mine who has passed his test to give me some lesson ?

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

Im sure once you have ur car test (at17) u rnt limited to any trailers behind a tractor, aslong as ur wole yolk weighs less than 24ton. no such thing as restricted zones in scotland/england. u arent ment to drive anything wider than it could b 2.45m or 3m not sure until ur over 21, same goes 4 self propelds ie combines and tracked machines 2. main thing is to avoid giving the cops an excuse to stop you! between 16-17 is a grey area, wen i was ur age, 7 years ago i didnt think ther was much benifit to siting a tractor test, I couldnt do the few road jobs that we were doin then so i just waited til i was 17, not that i didnt chance it on the road a few times with no ticket at all!

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

I am 17 and hold a full UK driving license. During the summer i was running grain from the field to the store. I dont hold a B+E entitlement but didnt think this would be a problem as i am driving a tractor and not a car?? The law seems very vague in this area and wondered if someone could shed some light on the scene?? also are there any weight limits until i get to 21 or width limits??

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

Sorry to bring this up again chaps, and some chappesses. But the above is not correct. There are no weight limits after you have taken your tractor test only the overall gross weight of 24tonnes. This includes the tractor, the trailer and the load its self. This applies for any one who has any licence.. The width limit is 2.45 metres untill you are 17. Oh and you carnt go around pulling converted artics for tractors! no dolly trailers ! Corn trailers are alloud.. thats the ones with good old 4 super singles not 8 wheels!

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

Hi i am 16 and have been looking for info on tractor licenses ect. Is it true then what the gross weight is 24 ton after you have passes the test ? The size and weight is a big problem for me as our farms tractors are all around 6-7 ton and the main aim for me getting a license would be trailor work . If any one has any sold info about the exact weight it would be very help full as for the width you can allways just move the wheels in a bit ^^.

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

Ha ha, yes im sure u can move the wheels in a bit in your job not so easy with ours tho. any way... the exact weight is 24 metric tonnes. This does not only count for you but for any tractor driver on the road in england this includes the tractor trailer and the load. If they are over this limit then they are breaking the law!

are constructed for use as a tractor for work off the road in connection with agriculture or forestry

If you want to drive tractors on public roads you must be at least 16 years old. At 16 you are restricted to a tractor which is no more than 2.45 metres wide and only driving on the road when travelling to and from a driving test appointment until you’ve passed your category F driving test.

If you are driving a category F vehicle in Northern Ireland you may also drive at 16, when engaged in the course of agricultural operations, on any road which is not a road where the maximum speed limit under Article 50 of the Order is 30 miles per hour or less.

At 17 years old you can drive any tractor and you can drive unaccompanied on the road displaying L plates, or D plates in Wales.

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

Theres a lot of crap been posted here as "Fact" by people who evidely have no idea what their on about. Can I please clear stuff up once and for all. This is as I see the rules and regulations, and it is most peoples interpretation of them. It is not legal advice, however I belive it to be correct.

At 16 you may take a tractor on the road with L plates. It must have no trailer. It can only be driven to and from a classF driving test, on any road where tractors are legally allowed to go (ie; not motorways.) It must be less than 2.45 meters wide at the widest point.

Once you have passed your classF you can drive any tractor PROVIDED it is less than 2.45 meters wide. You may tow a trailer PROVIDED it has 1 or 2 close coupled axels. (so no artics), and it also has to be less than 2.45 meters wide. Any implement can be attached PROVIDED it is less than 2.45 meters wide.

At 17 you may take your class B driving test (car) you may also (if not already done the classF test) take any tractor and trailer combination on the road PROVIDED it has L plates. L plates are not needed once you pass class B test. You can tow any trailer behind a tractor as long as the Maximum Autherised Mass (MAM) is less than 24 tonnes, whether you have passed your class B or not.

Once you have passed your class B test then the tractor does not need L plates but you cannot drive certain machinary (combines, sprayers etc) until you are either 18 or 21 (depends on the machine)

You may also tow a trailer maxium LOADED weight of 750kg behind a car if it has no brakes. You are also allowed to tow a trailer of any weight LESS than that of the towing vehicle as as long as the OUTFIT (ie car and loaded trailer) weighs less than 3.5 tonnes. Eg if you had a 2 tonne LR then you could tow a 1.5 tonne trailer, as long as it is braked. You wouldnt be allowed to tow a 2 tonne trailer (MAM > 3.5t). Equally you wouldnt be allowed to tow a 1.5 tonne trailer behind a 1 tonne car.

To tow more than the MAM of the car, you need a class B + E licence, which involves a basic reverse and genearal road driving. It costs I belive about £500 with training.

You cannot take tracklaying tractors on the road until you have passed a class H test. The exception being a Quadtrack because it is pivot (artic) steering as opposed to steering with the tracks.

As far as getting started, apply for a provisional driving licence and once youve got it book a class F test. You can do this online on the DSA website. www.dsa.gov.uk

Re: Tractor Test And Licences

There is some useful info on the NFU online website - ref article 131. You have to be a member to gain access to the site.

A word of warning - where reference is made to closecoupled four wheel trailers this does not just mean artic trailers. There is a certain distance between the axles that must be adhered to, which unfortunately does not include some tandem axle grain trailers.I found this out a few years ago as my son was taking his test but can't recall the exact dimensions - worth checking.

Avon & Somerset Police also have a helpline on 08454567000 where you can gain access to the latest information on this complicated subject.